Mozilla Firebird

[LeRoi]

I like this little browser:

http://wishlist.mozdev.org/firebirdfeatures.html

Bear in mind it is still a beta (until the 1.0 release), but the few minor bugs I've encountered aren't bothersome to me, you'll have to look hard to find any I think.

I would recommend getting one of the installer versions available here:

http://seb.mozdev.org/firebird/

It is very customizable and there are many extensions that increase functionality in specific ways available here:

http://texturizer.net/firebird/extensions.html

Here is a good Firebird information page:

http://members.rogers.com/dpjames/firebird/

Flash, Shockwave and the Java Runtime Environment also enhance functionality.

ActiveX won't run on Firebird (or Mozilla), so that is one less security problem you have to worry about, also it is not so integrated with Windows as is Internet Explorer making it less likely that a malicious person can manipulate data or invade your system, in my opinion. Of course other security measures like anti-virus, firewall, and registry protection are essential tools no matter what browser you use.

[Jane]

LeRoi , there are so many installers :wacko: which one ? Milestone release ot a Nightly builds ?

[LeRoi]

Hi Jane,

I'm still using a nightly build that was released on 6/03. It is very stable. It is the one at the very bottom of the list. The later versions may not be as compatible with the available themes, so I advise you to get that one.

I'm not planning on changing versions until version 0.70 is released.

[added] This is the one I have:

MozillaFirebird-20030525-setup.exe 2003/06/03 - 09:46:12 6.63 MB

[mfarley]

I must say, this browser is amazing, but still can't get over the sloppy default tab settings. To each his own, I know Leroi really likes the default settings, but they work nothing like MyIE2 which IMO is the best when it comes to tabs. :)

[amb141]

Elwood and all

>>also it is not so integrated with Windows as is Internet Explorer making it less likely that a malicious person can manipulate data or invade your system<<

While this is literally true, unfortunately, as long as IE is installed on your computer ITS vulnerabilities can still be exploited whether or not it is your browser of choice.

Therefore, whether you use an "off-brand" browser like Mozilla or Opera, or IE you still must stay up to date with MS patches for IE.

alan

[Jane]

Thank you LeRoi :)
I tried Mozilla once , but it bugged the heck out of me , so I think I had it for 5 minutes :wacko: But I would like to have another independent browser, just in case my IE goes waco on me . :doh:

[Jane]

Yes Mike , MyIE2 is the best :clap: I'm using it all the time and I love it . I just think I should have something standalone , just in case :P

[LeRoi]

>>While this is literally true, unfortunately, as long as IE is installed on your computer ITS vulnerabilities can still be exploited<<

Some, not all.

>>you still must stay up to date with MS patches for IE.<<

By all means, keep that thing patched up, no telling what might leak out!

[mfarley]

Originally posted by Jane@Aug 22 2003, 04:27 PM
Yes Mike , MyIE2 is the best :clap: I'm using it all the time and I love it . I just think I should have something standalone , just in case :P
I was under the impression that MyIE2 has eventual plans to be a stand alone browser. :P

I do recommend Firebird however, it is a great browser. B)

[LeRoi]

After you learn to customize the browser to your liking you'll love it.

I have the Googlebar and about five other extensions that make Firebird suit my purposes fine. I'm not crazy about all the themes, Pinball is my favorite, but Luna (for XP) or Luna Blue (for other OSes) are nice too.

[mfarley]

Do they have pinball for Firebird? I use it with my moz and it is my favorite theme!

[LeRoi]

Yeah, check it out:

[Jane]

OK, I installed Firebird on WinME (my desktop com ) and so far so good :unsure: what are the plugins that I should download ? And I noticed that there isn't a skin folder . How do you get the skins in ? Thanks :)
PS is there anything I should do first ?
First thing I noticed is that the bookmarks are all over the place :doh:

[LeRoi]

Hi Jane,

Don't get in too big a hurry, that's how folks mess up sometimes I think, LOL. :) Take a little time to get used to it first.

You can manage your bookmarks, by clicking bookmarks>manage bookmarks, not sure what you want to do with them, but you can create folders, drag and drop, various things. I only have four or five bookmarks imported from IE each time (I use it so little), so this is one area I am at a loss, sorry about that. How messed up are they?

Maybe Alan could help us out on the bookmarks thing (I hope, LOL). :D

I'll find a link for Shockwave, Flash and the Java Runtime Environment, those are the only plugins I use and aren't really necessary if all you want is a back up browser, but are great for animations and certain kinds of games and menus.

Here is pic of the options window and the extensions I have installed:



[added] This bookmark/plugin thing would be best handled in the pc help forum, could you please start a thread out there? Thanks. :)

<second edit> Here is a great FAQ: http://texturizer.net/firebird/faq.html

scroll down to plugins. :)

[Jane]

Thanks LeRoi :)
all I want is to have my bookmarks in alphabetical order :unsure: they are all over the place . And I didn't find the way to put them right. In MyIE2 I have a Links bar (that is why I kept the old version ) and all my important daylies are in there . Very handy :) I love that browser :jig: :jig: :lol:

[LeRoi]

>>all I want is to have my bookmarks in alphabetical order<<

I'm not sure how to do this, I think it is done through the view menu in "manage bookmarks" (bookmarks menu>manage bookmarks), there are "sort by" options there. I will experiment around and see if I can figure it out.

I've always just dragged and dropped into a sort of order as I've added bookmarks one by one, not really alphabetically.

I think Alan would know how to do this, if he sees this thread.

[amb141]

Elwood y Jane

>>I'm not sure how to do this, I think it is done through the view menu in "manage bookmarks" (bookmarks menu>manage bookmarks), there are "sort by" options there. I will experiment around and see if I can figure it out.<<

Exactly, as far as I know. I don't think you can sort subfolders independently nor sort a selection of bookmarks.

alan

[Jane]

Well :wacko: thank God you can drag them around :doh: At least I can get some of my favorites on top . I managed to get some skins in , no plugins yet .
Thank you for a helping hand guys :clap: Consider yourself appreciated :thRt:

[LeRoi]

Hi Jane, :)

After you get your bookmarks how you like them (you can create folders and place dividers within the manage bookmarks window) you can copy the bookmarks.html file into a backup folder and restore them easily (just copy the file back into your profile folder).

There is something I forgot to mention (it's been a while since I installed Firebird), you can create profiles with different (or the same) preferences and settings. This is done (with the browser closed) by going to start>run> using the browse button, browse to C:\Program Files\Mozilla.org\Firebird\Firebird.exe (default location on Win9x) and cllick okay then add a space then a hyphen and a lower case p

The end of the line should be: Firebird.exe" -p

Then click okay (remember, this is all to be done with the browser closed)

The profile manager will open and you can create as many profiles as you like, then on subsequent browser sessions the profile manager will open automatically if you create more than one profile and you can choose the profile you would like to use.

[added] Here is the FAQ having to do with the first appearance of the profile manager:

http://texturizer.net/firebird/faq.html#profilemanager

[Jane]

OK :bang: :bang: now I'm really upset !!! same thing like last time. I went to my favorite www.orca-live.net site and the browser asked me for a plugin Macromedia flashplayer6 . I installed it even though I know I alredy have that . And again it asked for install og RealPlayer plugin (I have RealOne8 installed :wacko: ) and I clicked OK , proceeded to install something in Japanese :nono: Now , when I get to Orca site , it asks for both plugins again !
I have Macromed. flash installed , but what do I do with this jamodo thing :wacko: I just would like to know if it's OK to install . I have it downloaded but did not install yet ! Ty :unsure:
And I think I have to apologize , if I'm in the wrong forum to ask questions about the program. I just realized I might be in the wrong place . Soooo sory :doh:

[LeRoi]

I don't know what a jamodo is, sorry.

I'll try to find the site and see if I can figure out what's up. Did you get the Netscape compatible Flash player?

[LeRoi]

That's just something to install fonts so Japanese will display properly, don't install it, if it is a flash movie and you installed the flash player, it should work.

I'll find the flashplayer testing site and be back.

I told you not to be in such a rush....

[Jane]

http://www.jp.real.com/?audio/x-np-realaudio-plugin this is where it takes me and downloads something called jamodo :doh: :doh:

[Jane]

LeRoi , when I open the same site with IE , Avant , MyIE2 or Crazy Browser , I can see it , it will show with RealPlayer . I don't know what this browser wants because I can see half of the window (since I install the Macromedia plugin) that shows me how many people are watching the Orca site , but not the actuall video , that I can watch with the other browsers . ???

[LeRoi]

Go here and see if it displays the version of flash you installed:

http://www.macromedia.com/support/flash/ts...est_version.htm (http://www.macromedia.com/support/flash/ts/documents/test_version.htm)

[LeRoi]

I don't know if the plugin you downloaded will work with Firebird, but I'll try to find info, meanwhile I would just view that particular site with other browsers.

[Jane]

here it is

[Jane]

And here is what I see at Orca site

[LeRoi]

>> here it is <<

Okay, that's great, you have the right one and the latest version.

I think Realplayer can work with Firebird, I will have to find out how.

I know there is a version of Firebird that includes a lot of plugins like Realplayer and others too, but I have never tried it and cannot vouch for how it would work. It is called the BlackDiamond edition, it is too large a download for me to want to try and I already have the Java Runtime Environment, which included in the download.

[added] If you go here: http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/welcome/

you will probably be prompted to install the Shockwave Player (if you haven't installed it yet) the instructions should be easy to follow. If you have trouble just give us a holler. :)

[Jane]

when it asked for a plugin, I downloaded where it took me :unsure: But installed only the Macromedia . and it worked just for the lower part of the window .

[Jane]

Originally posted by LeRoi@Aug 22 2003, 09:15 PM
>> here it is <<

Okay, that's great, you have the right one and the latest version.

I think Realplayer can work with Firebird, I will have to find out how.

I know there is a version of Firebird that includes a lot of plugins like Realplayer and others too, but I have never tried it and cannot vouch for how it would work. It is called the BlackDiamond edition, it is too large a download for me to want to try and I already have the Java Runtime Environment, which included in the download.

[added] If you go here: http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/welcome/

you will probably be prompted to install the Shockwave Player (if you haven't installed it yet) the instructions should be easy to follow. If you have trouble just give us a holler. :)
:unsure: Now you talkin' jamodo to me ain't ya :wacko: :P

[amb141]

Jane

RealPlayer can sometimes be a nuisance in Firebird. Theory is that Firebird will detect your existing installation of RealPlayer and launch it to play Real Media Files and whatever else you have associated with it. But I have installed Firebird 0.6 three or four times and sometimes RealPlayer works and sometimes it doesn't. And now, when I go to movieflix.com, RealPlayer will launch when it is called upon and play streaming video like a champ. But when I go to mlb.com to listen to a baseball game RealPlayer will launch and freeze immediately. And when I go to Live365 to hear Dragnet I get an open-with box. When I choose RealPlayer it works fine.

I have thrown up my hands and said the hell with it -- if RealPlayer doesn't work on a particular site with Firebird, I'll just use the RealOne browser and access the site directly.

But it is a mystery to me why you were sent to what looks like Real's Japanese site.

alan

[Jane]

Hi Alan :) I just installed Shockwave and restarted , it was a successful install and still it will ask for that jamodo thing , because it asks for a plugin and if I click on it, that is where it takes me and says that I have to download the japanese font . this is the plugin that it wants :unsure:

Just wanted to add that I'm watching a daily news from Europe , at another site. That opens with WinMediaPlayer and that works just fine :thRt: with Firebird .

[LeRoi]

Hey folks,

Check this page:

http://plugindoc.mozdev.org/realwin.html.




.

[Jane]

Hi LeRoi :)
thanks for helping . But it's not going so great :blush: I foung the old RealPlayer8 and downloaded the installer , started to install, fished out 2 needed files and put them in their proper folders. One in plugins and the other on components . However , now when I go on Orca site I don't even get as far as the video window. When I click on it I get this error ! that is the dll file that went to plugins folder .

[Jane]

I took the "nppl3260.dll"file out of plugin folder and the error stoped. Back to square one :unsure: this is what I see now .

[Jane]

I just don't understand what use I could have for a japanese font . When I click on install plugin , I get this :wacko:
I guess I'm just going to leave it and forget about it now. It can't begin to compare to MyIE2 :huh: I'll just keep it installed , just in case . Oh well :awh:
Thank you all for trying to help . Much appreciated :)

[Crockett]

Wow...Jane's keeping you guys busy! :P
Sorry for your problems with your favorite site and Firebird, Jane.
This is an awesome browser.

Your site has this to say about browsers:
Recommended browsers
Use Netscape 4.5 and Internet Explorer 5.0, or later versions, to enjoy OrcaLive to its fullest. Note that imagery may not be seen as designed with Internet Explorer on Macintosh.
OrcaLIVE is currently provided via the Real Player (by Real Networks) system. Pleased install the necessary software to enjoy OrcaLIVE.

[Jane]

Hi Crockett :)
I have always been able to view Orca Live , no problem. With all my other browsers. I have RealOne installed and it works . I'm watching it right now on MyIE2 . But can't get it working with Firebird , no-how no-way :rolleyes: When I click on Get plugin, it takes me to that japanese real site and downloads jamodo plugin . I think it's that japanese font and I'm scared to install that . I'd rather not use the browser for that site . I installed that only because all the browsers I have are based on IE and I wanted to have one that is not . Just in case. But this gives me a royal pain youknowwhere :blush: :lol: TY :)

[Crockett]

I wouldn't install that jumbomia thingee either :lol: Not sure about that.
It is working for all your other browsers because they are I.E. related. That site doesn't work for me in Opera either.
It's good to have this browser as a backup though. Play around with it elsewhere and I'm sure you'll love it like Elwood, Alan and I do.

[LeRoi]

Hi folks,

Well, I'm at a loss about Realplayer and Firebird, but I know others have gotten it working before.

I have never used Realplayer because I consider it spyware, even though the spyware components can be disabled, from what I have read. I prefer not to have anything that I consider spyware installed whether or not the spyware components can be disabled or not.

I think there are substitutes for Realplayer, but I have never tried any and don't know if they could be made to work with Firebird.

I said early in this thread that Firebird is a beta product and won't be a full release until it is at the 1.0 stage and that there are bugs, but that I didn't find any of them annoying at all.

If you want a secure, fast, customizable, functional (for most purposes) browser, you can't beat Firebird, in my opinion.

You can easily uninstall Firebird by going to add/remove programs and choosing Firebird and clicking the add/remove button and rebooting, then delete the Mozilla.org folder in program files and the Mozilla folder from C:\Windows\Appication Data.

To each his or her own.

[Jane]

Thank you Crockett :)
I think I will install Firebird on my laptop also, just as a backup . But I'm not impressed :nono: :P

[LeRoi]

Originally posted by Jane@Aug 23 2003, 10:43 AM
But I'm not impressed :nono: :P
If you are going to judge other browsers by the non-standard sites you frequent, you won't be impressed by anything but an IE based browser. You might be impressed when the next IE exploit is discovered and nobody but users of other browsers computers are working though.

[Jane]

Good morning LeRoi :)
I shall not pester you any longer :lol: I gave up ! I have RealOne installed for a long time , just for this one Orca site . Nothing else . I never use it for anything but this site . I will not uninstall Mozilla Firebird , I will keep it . It works otherwise and even though I'm not tickled pink with it :nono: Anyway , I have have to thank you LeRoi :) You tried to help and showed me a few new things to learn . (like fishing out the dll files out of an installer , without actually installing the program , that was neat :clap: ) Thank you :)

[Jane]

Originally posted by LeRoi@Aug 23 2003, 08:47 AM
You might be impressed when the next IE exploit is discovered and nobody but users of other browsers computers are working though.
Yes sir :blush: I understand . And that is why I did put this browser on my comp . :think:

I also installed Firebird on my laptop . Have same problem (otherwise no problems ), asking for the same plugin . I have noticed that there is Japanese language at the site . Could someone with Firebird be so kind and test the site for me ? if they will get to see the video window . TY :) Orca Live (http://www.orca-live.net/)

[lobsterj]

Could someone with Firebird be so kind and test the site for me ? if they will get to see the video window . TY

I get same thing...to install real plugin.... :rolleyes: and yes I have realplayer on here...need it for AO-Hell

[Jane]

Thank you Janet :D
somehow I knew it would be you who will check it for me :) I really did :clap:
I will just leave this . Firebird works well otherwise. And I can always use MyIE2 for Orca site .

[LeRoi]

>>Firebird works well otherwise.<<

That is great, Jane. If you will use it when visiting unfamiliar websites and such, you will be much safer on the internet and I can help you customize it to suit you better. I hope you get some use out of it. :thRt:

[Jane]

Thank you LeRoi :)
You've already helped a lot :jig: I think I will get to use it and I will have a browser to fall back on if needed . :thRt: